Mold for locating thin inserts in elongated castings



Sept. 17, 1957 A. F. CRAVER MOLD FOR LOCATING THIN INSERTS IN ELONGATED CASTINGS Filed April 19,

, ff imV 25 Wij.: will" i MOLD FOR LOCATING 'IHlN INSERT-S EN ELONGATED CASTINGS Albert F. Craver, Bay Village, Ghio, assigner to The Patrol Valve Company, Cleveland, Ohio, corporation of Ohio Application April 19, 1954, Serial No. 423,905

4 Claims. (Cl. 22--116) This invention relates to an apparatus for inserting and supporting metal inserts or wires in permanent casting molds and retaining them in desired position during `the casting of metal. More specifically, the invention relates to inserting ferrous metal wires in molds receiving molten magnesium cast around the wires.

It has been found that in locating relatively thin elongated metal inserts such as iron wire in such light metals as cast magnesium anodes, an undue proportion of the operators time is required to thread the wire through the mold, locate the wire in relation to the metal guides, to preheat the wire and properly engage the wire in the mold under tension at both ends. This is particularly true when one or more wires are used at the same time. It would be inefficient to cast single, since two castings can -be made by my invention with Very little additional labor cost. The second casting does, however, introduce difliculties as the second metal insert or wire must be accurately centered and retained under tension at the same time. If this is attempted with two individual wires, possibly from two diiferent wire holding spools, undesirable diculty results. Furthermore, it requires more than one person to operate such mold under the above circumstances.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a simple, easily operated apparatus for accurately inserting and centering elongated inserts or metal wires in casting molds, and retaining them therein during the casting operation, the same being adapted to be used to hold a plurality of wires in a plurality of molds at the same time.

Other objects are, to provide a mold which can be constructed at a relatively low cost, may be operated with a minimum of la'bor cost, and is sturdy and reliable in operation.

These and other objects of this invention will appear in the course of the following speciiications.

In theV drawings forming a part of the specifications:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of an illustrative embodiment of this invention showing the mold in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a plan View on line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, while v Fig. 4 is a broken central section through'a casting formed in the device showing the central disposition of the wires therein.

In general, the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed comprises a book type permanent mold, disposed in an inclined position, including a lower mold portion and a similar upper mold portion adapted to be disposed over .the lower mold portion during the casting operation, each mold portion including two elongated mating mold cavities, the upper mold portion being secured to the lower mold by hinges along one side permitting the upper portion to be moved from a position directly over the lower portion to a position at the side thereof. Sprue holes are located at the top of the mold, while a grooved 2,806,266 Patented Sept. 17, 1957 ICS sheave or another means, mounted at the lower end of the lower mold portion and having its axis disposed at right angles to the axis of the mold cavities, is of such coniiguration and is disposed in such manner that a single wire disposed centrally of one mold cavity may be mounted around the sheave and brought into the other cavity, centered and retained therein during the casting operation.

The present embodiment of the invention, as disclosed herein, comprises a book type mold 10 mounted on a support beam 11 carried by leg 12, the mold 10 comprising a stationary lower portion 13 suitably mounted on the beam 11, and a movable upper mold portion 14, each of the mold portions including two elongated one half `round mating mold cavities 15, illustrated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2 and in full lines in Fig. 3. Hinge means 16 permit the upper mold portion 14 to 1be swung away from its position over the lower mold portion 13, as illustrated, toa position at the side thereof in a manner similar to moving a page of a book from a position over a lpage'to a position at the side thereof. The opening and closing of the mold 10 is accomplished by means of operating handle 27, while pneumatic clamping cylinders 17 operating in an obvious manner serve -to selectively clamp the two mold sections 13 and 14 together and release them.

Molten metal poured through sprue hole 18 at the top of the molds passes through connecting Sprue hole 19 simultaneously into the two elongated cavities 15, thus permitting the making of two casts from one pouring. A grooved sheave or anchor means 20 provided with anchoring margins, as shown in Figs. l and 2, is mounted on the supportbeam 11 below the lower end of the mold 10, where it is positioned and arranged in vsuch manner that a wire 21 extending the length of said mold cavities 1S and mounted around the sheave 20, is centered and retained in such mold cavity 15 by merelysecuring one end of the wire 21 at the top of said mold 10, then placing it along one mold cavity 15 and then around the sheave Ztl back into the adjacent mold cavity 15 and securing it at the top thereof.

Means for gripping the upper ends of the wire 21 comprise a pneumatic air cylinder 22, controlled by valve handle 28, having a piston 23 connected to a slidable base 25 operating in ways 25a, while clamping fixtures 24 mounted on base 25 and provided with operating handles 24a are adapted to clamp wires 21 disposed in horizontal bores therein, when the operating valve handle 28 is in one position and 'to release the same while in another operating position. Compressed air `at predetermined pressure, usually around 20 lb. per sq. in., supplied to the piston 23 in order that upon admitting such compressed air to the cylinder 22 clamping iixtures 24 will securelyy retain such wire ends at the required tension.

When using the mold 10, pneumatic clamp cylinders 17 operate the clamping arms 17a which are connected to pistons 17b in cylinders 17 to release the two mold p0rtions 13 and 14, and operating handle 27 on upper mold portion 14 is grasped permitting the mold portion to be swung on hinge means 16 to a position along the side of `lower mold portion 13 with its mold cavities 15 facing upwardly. One end of wire 21 is inserted in the base of one clamping fixture 24 and handle 24a is operated to clamp it therein. The wire 21 is then pulled through its co-adjacent mold cavity 15 and wound around the sheave 20 and then back through the other mold cavity 15, and the outer wire end is clamped to the other clamping fixture 24 as herein described. Operating handle 27 is then used to return upper mold portion 14 to its position over lower mold 13. The pneumatic clamping cylinders 17 then operate the clamping arms 17a to lock the upper mold portion 14 over the lower mold portionll,Y

The sheave 20 serves as an anchoring means to retain the wire centrally of the mold cavities as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and as such matching mold cavities are each of one half round construction in cross-section, castings 29 which are round in cross-section are produced, each having the wire 21 disposed centrally thereof throughout the entire length, as shown in thecompleted casting in Fig. 4.

By operating valve handle 28 the pneumatic air cylinder 22 is caused to carry the slidable base 25 and clamping fixtures 24 away from the end of the mold at a predetermined pressure, and as the lower end of the wire 21 is fixedly mounted or anchored around the sheave such predetermined pressure of the air inthe air cylinder 22 retains the wire 21 at thedesired tension. Molten metal is then poured into sprue hole 18 and then fiows through connectingsprue hole 19 into each of the two elongated mold cavities formed by disposing the two similar mold halves of the upper mold portion 14 over the lower mold portion 13. Usually it is only necessary to leave the ltwo mold portions closed for a minute or so. The clamp fixtures 24 are then released, the clamping arms 17a are operated to release the two mold portions. T'he upper mold portion 14 is swung away from the lower mold portion 13. The ends of the wire 21 projecting beyond the mold end may then be cut, and the finished castings 29 are removed from the mold cavities.

If desired more than a pair of castings may be formed at the same time and such construction is within the contemplated scope of this invention. The present ernbodiment of the invention relates to casting magnesium rods,rhaving ferrous metal wire inserts, the same being adapted to be suspended in hot water tanks for minimizing the corrosive action of the hot water on the tank walls.' It will be appreciated, however, that the method and apparatus herein disclosed are adapted to be used in casting various metals.

The use of a sheave having ranchoring margins at one end of the mold for centering and retaining the inert wires centrally of the mold provides simple and quickly operated means for simultaneously casting two rods and accurately centering the wires therein. The invention hereindisclosed also provides a construction assuring that the two wires will be subjected to equal predetermined pulling strain during the casting operation, a `feature which assists in the uniform bonding of the wire to the rod.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present embodiment of the invention is illustrative only and that the invention may be variously changed, used or modified without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing the advantages thereof.

I claimi l. A mold for simultaneously manufacturing a plurality of metal castings having metal inserts disposed therein comprising, base means for supporting said mold, a permanent mold means mounted on said base means and including two pivoted mold sections having one section mounted over the other section and adapted to be separated Yon said pivot for removing the finished castings therefrom, said mold sections adapted to form cavities when engaged, an anchoring sheave disposed on said base means on an axis perpendicular to the plane of said mold means and located beyond one end of said mold cavities and provided with an outer circumferential surface providing anchoring margins, the axis of said sheave being aligned with the median line between said pair of cavities and the diameter of said sheave corresponding with the distance between the axes of said cavities, gripping means disposed on said base means at the opposite end of said mold cavities for individually gripping the ends of metal inserts disposed in castings located in said cavities, a common pneumatic means mounted on said base means for moving said gripping means away from said anchoring means under predetermined tension for placing said inserts in a taut condition, and sprue means communicating with said cavities.

2. A mold for simultaneously casting a plurality of metal castings having metal inserts disposed longitudinally thereof comprising, base means for supporting said mold, mold means mounted on said base means and provided with cooperating mold cavities mounted on said mold means, fixed anchoring means disposed on said base means at vone end of said mold cavities, said anchoring means having anchoring margins aligned with the axes of the said mold cavities, said mold means being positioned and arranged in such manner that it is adapted to receive a single metal insert simultaneously disposed in each of said cavities with an intermediate portion of said insert looped around said anchoring means and with the ends of said insert projecting beyond the mold cavities at the opposite end of said mold means, means for gripping the two projecting insert ends, means for moving both of said gripping means away from said fixed anchoring means under pre-determined tension and thereby placing the inserts disposed in both mold cavities under a common tension with said anchoring means, and sprue means communicating with said cavities for feeding molten metal to said cavities.

3. A mold for simultaneously forming a pair of elongated castings having a thin metal insert disposed therein comprising, base means for supporting said mold, mold means mounted on said base means, said mold means being provided with a pair of parallel disposed elongated mold cavities disposed on said mold means, fixed anchoring means disposed on said base means at one end of said mold cavities, sprue means mounted at the opposite end of said cavities, said anchoring means having anchoring margins aligned with the axes of said mold cavities, said mold means being positioned and arranged in such manner that it is adapted to receive a single metal insert disposed in each of said cavities with an intermediate portion of said insert looped around the anchoring margins of said anchoring means in such manner that said insert is capable of moving therearound for centering said insert in said cavities with the ends of said insert projecting beyond the mold cavities at the sprue means end of the mold means, means for gripping said projecting insert ends, a single means for simultaneously moving both said gripping means away from said fixed anchoring means under pre-determined tension and thereby placing both inserts under a common tension, whereby the insert disposed `in each cavity is placed under a common predetermined tension as molten metal is fed into said cavities through said sprue means.

4. A mold for making at least two elongated castings having wire inserts disposed centrally longitudinally thereof comprising, base means for supporting said mold, mold means mounted on said base means and provided with spaced mold cavities disposed on said mold means, a sheave disposed on said base means outside one end of the mold cavities, with its axis perpendicular to the plane of said mold means and having a peripheral margin adapted to receive and align a wire insert with the axes of said mold cavities, said mold being positioned and arranged in such manner that it is adapted to receive an elongated metal wire insert disposed in each of said cavities with an intermediate portion looped around and seated on the margin of said sheave, and with the ends of said wire insert projecting beyond the mold cavities at the opposite end of the mold means, means for gripping said projectingV wire ends, a common pneumatic means for simultaneously axially moving both said gripping means away from said sheave after said insert ends are gripped thereby placingrsaid insert under tension with said sheave, and sprue means communicating with said cavities for feeding molten metal to said cavities, whereby the insert disposed in each cavity is placed under a common tension whereupon the introduction of molten metal into said cavities, castings having a taut wire insert disposed centrally longitudinally thereof are produced.

(References on following page) 5 References Cited in the le of this patent 2, UNITED STATES PATENTS 2 295,262 Manula Mar. 18, 1884 587,308 Haataja Aug. 3, 1897 5 6 ONeill et a1. May 15, 1951 Morin Aug. 17, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Sept. 1, 1953 

